NFL umpire Larry Smith was carted off the field early in the Texans vs. Jaguars game at Wembley Stadium after slipping on the wet turf. The injury caused a delay in the first quarter of the 2026 London matchup, which featured Marvin Harrison Jr.’s debut for Houston.
Smith fell while officiating with the score still 0-0, initially going down once before trying to get up and then slipping again between plays. Trainers from both teams rushed out to attend to him. After receiving treatment, Smith was placed on a medical cart and taken off the field, tipping his hat to the crowd as he was driven towards the locker rooms.
NBC Sports reported that Larry Smith is in his second year as an NFL official and also works as a middle school principal in Kansas City, Kansas. The incident was captured live and quickly shared on social media, with NFL reporter Mike Garafolo noting Smith’s dual career.
The NFL has protocols for such situations, allowing the game to continue with six officials instead of seven if necessary. Another official took over Smith’s umpire responsibilities for the remainder of the game.
The Texans and Jaguars met for their Week 6 AFC South clash in London, with Marvin Harrison Jr. making his much-anticipated NFL debut. The game’s early interruption was unusual as it was caused by an injury to an official rather than a player.
The conditions at Wembley Stadium appeared slippery, contributing to Smith’s fall on the turf. The injury forced a pause in play while officials and trainers attended to him before he was removed from the field.
There has been no further update on Smith’s condition or the severity of his injury since he was taken off the field. The game resumed under the NFL’s adjusted officiating setup.
The Texans-Jaguars matchup in London attracted attention for Harrison Jr.’s first appearance with Houston, but the incident involving Smith provided an unexpected moment early in the contest.
According to Yahoo Sports.
